Automatic wire-gage and detector.



J. HERMAN.

AUTOMATIC WIRE GAGE AND DETECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8, YSHZ 1 1 4 1 ,707- Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

i. HERMAN.

AUTOMATIC Wm GAGE AND DETECTOR.

APPLICATION FILU JULYH 1912.

1 1 4: 1 ,707 Patented J une 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I UNITED STATES PATENT o Ficn JOSEPH HERMAN, OF SOUTH BARTONVILLEJILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO KEYSTONE STEEL Specification of Letters Patent.

IRE COMPANY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC WIRE-GAGE AND DETECTOR.

PatentedJunei 1915.

Application filed July 8, 1912. Serial No. 708,307.

To -all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JOSEPH HERMAN, a citizen of the-United States, residing at South Bartonville, in the county of Peoria .and State of Illinois; have invented a new and useful 'Automatie Wire-Gage and Detector, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to an automatic wire gage and'detector, and is adapt ed foruse in the drawing of wire to automatically detect when the wire or rod which is being drawn through the drawing plate or die, is irregular in size or of a larger gage than that for which the apparatus is set,

, and insodetecting the variance in size of the draw-n wire, will produce a sharp crimp in. the wire .and cause the same to break, thereby automatically notifying or calling to the attentionof the operator or wire drawer that the wire being drawn is irregular.

In the process of drawing wire, owing to the imperfections in the plates or dies having the openings through which the wire; may be drawn, said openings will'we'ar large;

and-cause the wire which is being drawn, to; be irregular in size; in other words, the openings in the plates or dies determine the; gage of the --wire drawn and if these open ings wear large in the operation of drawing the wire, the gage will 'vary, unless promptly detected bv the operator or wire drawer.

The rod bundles contain from two to three hundred pounds andit not unfrcquently happens that the operator or'wire drawer Q after setting his plate or die,will not gage the. wire drawn until after the drawing of the complete bundle. It is obvious that if the opening in the plate or die through which the wire is drawn should wear very fast, that the wire drawn will be one gage at one end and a different gage at the other end; in fact. it otten happens that the opening in the plate or die will wear so large and so fast, that the wire in the bundle will vary from a half to a full gage.

With my improved automatic wire gage and detector, the responsibility is taken from 1 the operator or wire drawer and the change in the gage of the wire drawn isinstantly and automat cally detected, andthe wire will break, calling to the} attention of the opera tor or wire drawer that the opening in the; plate or die through ;'which the wire is being drawn, is wearing, and he will at once stop his block and readjust his plate-and draw the wire through anew opening.

In the drawings forming a part of this description, Figure 1 is a plan view of a part of a wire drawing benclnand block thereon,

and the plate or die stand, with my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the plate or die stand with my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 3 is a cross sec-.

tion as the same would appear if taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, and showing a part of a wire or rod being drawn through the 1 plate or die; Fig. ft is a ,detail view of a porlion of the plate or die'andfoneof the open- ;ings therein through which the wire is being drawn, and showing" the wiregage and detector in its normal position and during the time when the wire drawn is of un- I changed gage; Fig. 5 is a detail of the wiregage and detector showing the position of the parts at that moment when the opening; in the plate or .die' through which the "wire is being drawn, wears-large, when the detector will put a sharp crimp in the wire and when any further strain lncident to the wire drawing operation occurs, will r' fause the wire to break, and Fig. 6 is a sec- ".tional detail through the detector member showing the manner of supporting the gage block therein.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parlsjthroughout the figures.

1 designates thedrawing bench, which, it will be understood supports a great number of drawing blocks, and on said bench is shown the drawing block keyed to the short shaft 3 which may be driven in any the wire drawing 'block, and the main body fir -nonof the plate stand as well as the pl; eor die supported therein, are of the usual .and well known construction. The pl'atefstand 4 is provided with vertically a lined openings 6 and 7, see Figs. 2 and3, and with the transverse opening 8, see Fig. 3. The plate pr die 5 is carried in the open: ing 8 of the plate stand 4 and rests upon a block '9, of fwhich substitutes of various sizes are "provided, whereby the plate or openings 11 may be all of one gage whereby only'one gage: wire may be drawn through the plate or die, or they may be of varying gage, whereby. various gages of wire may be drawn througl'i the same plate or die. It being understood, that whatever "gage of wire desired to be drawn, that the plate having the desired gage .opening' or openjings is adjusted irrthe plate standl and the wire inserted and .drawnthrough the desired opening in'said plate or die, and said opening, through which the wire is drawin s-ill determine the gage of the wire and its is desirable thatwhen the plate or -di 5. 1s set and the wire isdrawn that the 'ga of said wire shall not vary in the in f th thereof. p At the upper end of the platestand at and projecting from the rear face thereof are ears 11, producing a bifurcation in \'-"l\i :h is carried the arm or member 12. F-aid armor'member 12 is provided with the trunnions 13 journaled in the. cars 11,

M'l ercl'iy the arnror member 12 has a pivotal ,i' e'lation' with the cars. 11. Centrally of the .i'irm or member 12' is provided the opening 11 1 therethrough, in which is carried the elongated tubular member or sleeve 15, bolts ".15" or other suitable securing means being 'provided and adapted to be passedthrough the arm or member 12 for seci'lring the tuhula r member or sleeve 15 in the arm 1.2-.

'lelescopieally carried in the tubular member or sleeve-15 is a rod 10, which, at its lower end is bifurcated, producing the cars 17. (farriedin the bifurcation of the rod 16, and having a pivotal relation with the ears 1?, is ablock 18,.said-block being opens out of the upper edge of the block and which at itsupper end and for a suitable deptln t nds across the entire widthof the block, see Fig. (3; the remainder of said recess being preferably rectangularin shape to receive a gage 2-1 which is adapted to be seated in the recess and which is provided with the opening 32 disposed centrally therein and' when said gage is in the recess. in the block 18, said opening is in alinement with the axis of the pivot screws 19. The recess communicates with slot the block 18; being removable that other r gages may be substituted so as 'to change the size. of the opening 22 to conform substantially to theopening 11 in the plate or die 5 through which the 'wire is bein drawn, and said gage is adjustable so that the gage may be turned to present an unworn face'in case of any wear at any point in the opening 22 in the gage. The gage 21 after being inserted into the recess 20, is firmly held therein by the plate 24, which is insertedin'to the-larger portion of the recess, 20 and securely held therein by means of thesecuring screws 25. .Tor'emove the gage 21 to substitute therefor a gage with a larger or similar sized opening or to change I the position of the gage Ql in the block 18, the plate24 is removed.'

26 denotes a rod or bar, which is secured to the ears 17 of the rod 16 extending transversely of the bifurcation in the said rod and at a point slightly above and to one side of the center of the pivot screws 19., which pivotally hold the block 18, and the gage in the bifurcation in the end of the rod 16.

In Figs. 3 and 4,-the normal position and relation of the block 18 and the gage therein with the plate or die 5, is shown. Iiithis position, it will be' observed that the plate or die 5 is adjusted with one of the openings 11 in alinement= with the opening 22 in the gage21, and as said age is in a perpendicular position with relation to said plate or die and theopening 11, which coincides and is in alinement with the opening in the gage, a wire or rod. as it is drawn through the opening 11 in the plate-or die 5, iscarried in a. straight line through the opening 22 in the. gage 21 and said gage under normal conditions, assumes a perpendicular "posi tion with respect to the horizontal movement of the wire or rod through the plate or die, and said gage will be maintained in such relation so long as there is no wear to the opening 11 in the plate or die through which the wire or rod is drawn. It will be observed, however, that there is a little play between the face of the block 18 and the. rod or bar :26, when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This will allow of a slight oscillatory movement of the,- block 18 and the gage 21, in the event of any irregularity of the position of the opening ll in the plate or die 5.

During the operation of drawing a wire or rod. if there is no wear of the wall of the opening 11. or it said opening 11 does not wear large, owing to the drawing operation, the blutk l8nnd the gage 21 will be retained in the normal perpendicular relation to the die or plate 5. as shown in Figs. 3 and l. by means of the spring 27 yieldingly holding the parts in position shown, with the fiat face of the block 18 against the flat face oi the plate or die 5. That instant when the wall of the opening: 11 in the plate or die 5 begins to wear so that the wire or rod will draw larger than. intended. the gage :21 will detect. surh enlargement of the opening ll in said plate or die: liow'ever. it will la dHtlQ'l'SttKP-i that the opening :22 in the gage 2i only large enough to allo-v 'l'ree passage of a wire or roll therethrongh. and eorrt-- v\ponds approximately to th opening ll in the plate or dir through '1 ltfll the wire or rod is being drawn. and the wear of the (winning 1] in the pla e or die will naturally llltl'twlfil the ei'm ol' lit wire or rod and such illtll't'EiFt' in size ol' the wire or rod will not pass through the op ning E22 in the gage 21.; and the further diweiving upon said wire or rod through the frictional engagement. of the same with the wall of the opening 22 in the page .tl. will cause said gage and the l()\"l in whi li it is carried. to be moved outi and av -'.y from the plate or die 5,

unm-naait b ing; permitted owing to :lw u sii support tor the rod 16 on the nppu al ot' the plat stand. as described.

.a ti. gageand block carrying the same inow an a) from the platior die I). the rod will mare through h tu ular member "l i 'r or Slm'vr 15'. ll i:' this time when the 1?] and the bloc lw l' l'tmoved outwardly and away iron) l'li plate or dii-v 5 w iro or rod. (-r (winning 11 hrough the enlarge. 2 Hi ol' ill !l;1!) -.lntail of the null in said or die that t p rod or bar previoir tx ri-lia r d t 3 ot ma its t'unrtiou or is lirougln into play. "maid rod an. during the niownn-ut of the ill away from the te 42;" l-- to maintain the lo i. in appr xiniately iii to "o in vial pos t uzn sl ox, o in l o wt .inel ne l toaw! TlL. pan or ilt; 5. 1 Y "I l'g i! L If L) an. {MP eonp.11: iowt! end ivQlQO u. xali the liilorl. lit and the gage is moved away from the plate or die 5 through the enlargement of the wire or rod. said rod. 16 is inclined away from said plate or die .3, from the upper to the lower end of said rod, see Fig. 5; and maintaining the same relation between the block 18 and the rod 16 in such latter position will cause the block 15 to assume an oblique position with respect to the longitudinal movement of the wire or rod and kink said wire or rod as at 28, and the further strain upon the wire or rod in the drawing operation. will break the same and such breaking will indicate to the operator or wire drawer that the opening ll in the plate or die 5 is wearing.

The rod 16 is yieldingly held in the position Shown in Figs. 3 and 4, with the block 18 in the normally perpendicular position relative to the line of travel of the wire or rod, by means of a spring 27, the opposite ends of which are coiled about the trunnious 123 of the arm 1'. with the terminals of the spring bearing upon the upper face of the stand l, whi lo the body portion of the spring indl-ated as 29, extends across and bears against the tubular member or sleeve 15.

()no of the many advantages to be derived from the use of my automatic wire gage and detector. is eutending the life of the })l2lt( or die This may be explained as follows: Assuming that my iniention is now applii-d to a drawing bench or in corn nection with a plate stand whivh carries the plate or die 5. and supposing that we are drawing a No. 5 rod down to a No. 8 wire; it the opening ll in the plate or die 5 beginsto wear very rapidly and the same is not dete ted by the operator or wire drawer the size at said opening when the drawing operation has been rompleted, may wear to almost tin, size of the rod which is being drawn. Such extrtancly rapid wear is raused by the improper setting up of the opening! oi openings in the plate. and if such w ar is not detected lwl'ore the open-- ing wears so large. the trou le and expense inrident to rebattering the plate or die. pri-- eludes the possibility of long use of the plate. in the other hand, with my invention, tlnsmallest amount of wear of the plates or dies is quickly and instantly d tortcd and the re etting ol' the opening or openings in the plate is an easy matter and long life of the plate is; insured.

in the operation of drawing wire from a bundh of rods. if the plate or die wears. and the operator or wire drawer does; not detect? the irregularity or (-l'iange in the size of the wire the inanul'twtnror will lose a certain number oi lineal l'eet oi wire. n hirl; he would otherwise obtain with a pcrl ct plate or die: so that. with the use of my device the manufacturer absolutely assured that he will obtain all the lineal feet of wire from a bundle of rods that he is entitled to from the size of opening: in the plate or die, whether the plate or die wears or not. There is :1 further advantage, with the use of my device and that is in the quality of wire dizuvn which may he ssiihso qiienlly Used in nail making. It, will liii ipen that the plate or die will wear in ii manner as to can; the wire to be checked or formed with ridgehj. finch nire will not l'lliilv'Q good nails and my device ill ire vent the ire from being eheelted or ridged {IS the wire 50 di'ziivn will not pass, through the gage, but will lie detteled and broken in the manner described 1. In 21 deviee oi the ti'hiirinter deeei'ihed. and in combination with ;i stand adapted to sup ort a phite or die: :1 wire gage :i block or holding the gage, :i iiii i iort liElY" ing a pivotal connection with Siliil hand. a member having a slidahle rehilioii llll I 1 support, said block ha ing 21 ivotiili-iiiini-e tion with said member.

2. In a, device of the rliiiriieter (lifxt'liliztl, and in COIUl lIUitlOn with :i :31 and. adapted to support a plate or die; 21 ire gage, :i hloel; for holding the gage, iin lll'ltl iixotiiilv eonnected to said stand, it tubular member or sleeve carried by said :ii'ii'i, :i nieml'ier looaely (Zlll'lCtl in siiid tubular member or bleeve. Stllkl hloel; ili'fllll f :l pivotal conneetion with said member.

I In 21 deviee ot' the rhariiii-ter deserilied, and in C(NH 'lIlfltlOU; ti stand. it Pl -ltt? or die supported thereon; a \viro gage, 11 support for the gage, llllZlIlS for eiipport iiig Fzll l :lp port on Stlltl mind. and menus for vie ilin il lii'ilding' the said support in 21 position i that the gage will lie iioriiuilly iiiziintiiiied in t1 vertirzil position and tl(lj;lt' "lll1 biibl plate or die.

4. in ft derive oi the char-inter dwli il ed. and in eoiiihiniition. I1 blilllll, a plate or (lie SHppOllttl tliereon; a wire gage, t1 Merit for *upporting mid gage, :in arm hav ing ii piv ()ltll eoniieetion with mid stand, niezins ear ried by said arm for onppoi-ting siiiil l)l()(!l and a spring curried lgv the arm and engaging the supporting means for the l)l(itl for yieldingly holding said blot'k IiUl'lllEillV iii a vertical position and adjacent said plate or die.

5. In a. device of the character described, and in combination, :i stand ii plate or die supported thereon; ii \vire gage, a holder for the gage, 3 rod, and means for pivotiilly eonneeting the holder to Said rod, 21 Summit for the rod, said support being joni'niiled to said stand, and means for normally holding said rod in :1 position with the flat time ot mid holder :idjneent -..:iid plate or die.

(5. In a device of the i-liairinrter diseriiied. and ,in (t)lill)ltizlil0ll with 2! stand, lliltll ll'll to :inpport ii plate or die; It wire g:i gi :2 holder for mid gage, it rod having 21 tiller (zited end, means for pivotnlly supporting \iltl holder in the liltlllVittll end (it so ii ro h illll will for mid rod. and liltlillS tor pli- -mi l i (tililiflillif mid Mar ne-t to said. ltll'ltli T .ln :1 ltYlt't? ot the l'lltilill'ltl vie li ili, 7e and in ioiiiliiiiiition l li stand. fidiii ted to riqi ort :1 plane or die; it one 'ige, a holder l bi' l e, the o lmit mil" .l' holder l 'ii l Med trol in: ozi

to 2! point her-ind llie Uptl'llliii' in A e, :1 rod, :iiid iiieaiefir pivo i i v i nri'liiig the holder to mill rmli ii s iiigioi t the rod. and menus for iivotiilly l' itl .liif, mid support to said stand i in ii ii'nviite of the litiiii 'ter t- -i e. i :i holder l'oz' ln l ler ii 1'(-i*3 t-f iiieiiiia iii-m adapt-id to he re of tie holder for 1mm holder, :i iivotzilly :iioiinti holih-r and nimns loipimino mid holder to said siiiipoi't.

l in it oevir'e of the elizirnr'ler (lest-rallied and iii i'i 1lil)lliiill(i1'i with :1 stiiiid. dllftp tmi to Slllilitii'l :1 plate or die; 2'! vi'ire ge. ii holder A l, l'i i siiiil gage, it support for .id holder eluding an arm pivo zilly ((jlllll(,'lli,ll to th :aizind, said arm having on opening th n through. it tiiliiihir iiieiiihi-r or sleeve orried iii the o ii'in iip iii the arm. niriins for liking o mid tiiliuli member or sleeve in the o1 iiigg' l Said all), 1} rod liio ely rzuriiril in iiiliiilur nieiiilier or sleeve and lowin r pivolzillv (oiiii itiiig the holder to mi E' W, in a devit'e of the (Illill'iHlt-l ietoo and H roiiil intioii with 21 etxiiidi whip-nil to l i lfiil'l tliite or die: ii viii'e Mil er l 'ill sni l glare :1 rod liIH'lilQ dim.- l zit till nd l'oriiiinffl a ll'lllllCilllUlL i'iieiiiw to! iiiotzillv connecting said holder liet iitii aim we Fill and ii: the liii'iirriition t 1* d l 2 =1 "Zll'l'li l iii the liitiirerition of tilt ii 'i Y iiee r-rl to theezne: ll1l'l(il .,21ll-1l 7? so l mid rod.:-1iid isiljlpul'tjilMiZtill) l,(ll!ll'(i f1l to said stand. ti 1;)

ll. In :1 deviee of the -;'hiiriirter deserilied, and in conil'iiniition with a stand ll(i;il l("l t support ii plate or die; :1 Wire gag; holder for mid gage t1 rod having simet a oriii one end l f ll'illng 1i liil iirentioir pivot 're\v;-= ii for (mille -ting the holder to the (it's of the rod and in the bifurcation thereofl ii hair t'ill" rir-il in the liiliirriitioii of the rod and con net-ted to the ears thwoof, a tubular member or sleeve in .vhirh said rod is carried Ilizii line longitudinal movement and an :iriii lei. iiii i iorting said tubular member or sleeve, Hllil ill'lli being pivot-ally eonneeted to bziltl stand.

l2. In a device of the character deseiiheil in combination, wire drawing means. 11 iiieiiilier having :in opening through it who may pass, a fillppfiil/ iidn itriiirillv hold the gage meniljier :idE:

perpendicular to the line of travel of the wire, said gage member being adapted to break the wire at. the moment when said wire is lwingdrawn too large to pass through the opening in the gage.

131. in law ice at the haracter de cribed, in combination, wire drawing means. a gage member having an opening through which a wire may pa.-.s. a support for the gage, said support being pivotally mounted, means for yield s y hold ng the support in a position so that the gage member is normally adjacent said wire drawing means. and means for no mally holding the gage in a position perpemlicular to the line of travel of the wire, said holding means acting to cause the gage to break the wire, v. hen said wire is being drawn too large to pass through the opening in the gage.

l l. in a device of the character described, in combination. wire drawing m an a gage nieinhei inning an opening through which a 'nire' may pass. a support for the gag means for piroral y eonne 1g said gage membe to said support, means for pivotally mounting said support, means for Vieldingly holding the support with the gage member adjacent said ire drawing means. means on the. suppiirt for maintaining the gage member in a normally perpendicular position relative to ,l the line of travel of the wire, when said wire isbeingdrawn of uni form gage, said last mentioned means acting to cause the gage member to break the wire when said wire is drawn too large to pass through the opening in said gage.

if. XVirc drawing means. a gage member haying an opening through which a wire may'pass, a support. for said gage member. means for pivotally mounting said support, said Filll'ipfirt, when the wire is being uniforinly drawn, being adapted to hold the rage member in a position to adapt the drawn wire to pass freely through the opening in the gage member, and means for maintaining the relative positions of gage member and said support, when said support 0s llat/eo through the enlargement of the wire being drawn. and the failure at said enlarged part of the wire to pass through the opening in the gage member. resulting in the breaking of the wire,

iii, lVire thawing means. a gage member ha ring; iiu opening through which a Wire may phi-2H, a support for said gage member, m anstor pi rotally mounting said support. support b ing adapted to hold the gage member adjacent said wire drawing means so t at the wire when uniformly drawn will pass freely through the opening in the gage member. 18 on the support and adiacent the 95:;{6 m-a-i rr to hold the gage member nornmllv osition to allow the free paso: tin- .t. thcrethrough, said holding means being adapted when the support is osciliated. and the gage member is moved from it:-; normal poktion. to cause the gage member to k nk and break the wire.

17. Wire drawing means. a gage member having an opening througl which a wire may pass. a holder for the gage member, said holder arranged for the passage of wire therethrough, a support for said holder. said mpport being p \ot.all mounted, means for pivotall'y connect ng the holder to said support, means for yicldingly holding the support with the gage and its holder in a position for the passage of drawn wire through the name, means on the support to hold the gage and holder in a position to allow the free passage of drawn wire therethrough, when the drawn wire is uniform, said holding means being adapted when the gage and holder are moved, owing to irregularity of gage in the wire, to bear against the holder and cause the wire passing through the gage to be kinked and broken.

l8. lVire drawing means, a. gage member having an opening through which a wire ma v pass, a holder for said gage, a support for said holder, means for pivotallv connecting said holder to said support, means for pivotally mounting said support, means for yieldingly holding the support inclined in the direction of the wire drawing means and for positioning the gage and holder ad: jacrutsaid drawing means, means on the support for holdingth gage and said holder normall per 'iendicular relatii e to the travel of the wire. said holding means on the support, being adapted when the support is moved into a position inclined from the drawing means. to bear on the gage holder, and cause said gage to kink and break said wire.

19. In a device of the character described, in combination, a wire drawing plate, a wire {rage detector. means for supporting said gage adjacent said pla e so as to adapt the gage to detect any irregularities or changes in the size of the drawn wire because of any defection in sa d plate, and to break said wire at the instant such detection or irrezu larities appear.

20. In a device of the character described, in combination. av wire drawing plate, a wire gage detector. means for supporting said gage in a posit on for the drawn wire to pass tbrrothrough as it leaves the plate. said gage being adapted to break the ire in case of d ection in the drawing plate.

21. In a device of the character described, in combination. a stand, a wire drawing plate mounted on said stand, awirc gage detector. a block for holding said gage. said block bring piiotally supported in front of said plate to hold the gage in a position so that the drawn wire will pass through the same as it leaves the plate, said gage being adapted to break the wire in case of defection in the drawin plate.

22. In a device 0% the character described, in combination, a stand, a Wire drawing plate mounted on said stand, a gage having an opening to receive a wire, a block formed with a recess to receive the gage, a support for the block, said support adapted to normally sustain said bim'k in a position so in that the drawn in; wiii pass through the opening in the gage HS it iem'es the pinte, said gage being adapted in break the wire in case of defection in the draw ng plate.

J ()8 ii Pi i HERLJAN. In the presence m CHAS. N. LA Poirriz, J BAN NETTE M. AN D'ERSON. 

